People group profile · PG001248
The Kyrgyz of China
The Kyrgyz of China, numbering about 197,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Turkic-speaking ethnic group native to Central Asia, primarily associated with Kyrgyzstan, but also found in neighboring countries.
They are an indigenous people in the Kyrgyz people cluster of the Turkic Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Islam, and they primarily speak Kirghiz.

Fast facts
- Country
- China
- Population
- 197,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Kyrgyz
- Primary language
- Kirghiz (kir)
- Primary religion
- Folk Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kyrgyz are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Kyrgyz
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Folk Islam · Islam
95% adherents
Primary language
Kirghiz · Turkic family
100% speak Kirghiz
Gospel resources in Kirghiz
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2005 Bible Society in Kazakhstan · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Kyrgyz
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
Kyrgyz in other countries
The same people (ROP3 105550) is reported in 9 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kyrgyz | Kyrgyzstan | 6,080,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Uzbekistan | 321,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Tajikistan | 136,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | United States | 30,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Kazakhstan | 14,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Germany | 14,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Turkiye | 1,800 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Afghanistan | 1,300 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Kyrgyz | Canada | 1,100 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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